Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree from Benedictine University, where she currently teaches a class in law and politics. She then attended Northern Illinois University College of Law where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. While at law school Stephanie worked extensively in appellate advocacy, competing in both the American Lawyer’s Association and Lenny B. Mandell Moot Court Competitions, as well as serving as Chief Justice of the NIU Moot Court Society. Stephanie also served as the Vice-Justice of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and studied Civil and European Union Law in France while studying abroad.
Stephanie first began working at Giannola Legal LLC as a law clerk and became an associate attorney upon her admittance into the Illinois Bar. She has a passion for family law and advocating for her clients. In her free time Stephanie enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Q&A:
From the perspective of your role, what’s one thing you wish clients understood better about the divorce process?
That the court system is not fast moving and patience is key in order to finalize a settlement without spending tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees. No matter how fast an attorney can negotiate or draft a settlement agreement, we are all at the mercy of the court’s availability.
How do you balance the emotional side of family law with the legal side?
Family law inherently comes with a lot of emotions and while not all emotions are tied to legal problems that an attorney can address, those feelings are still valid and deserve to be understood and heard by your attorney so they can better understand the full picture of your case. I always remind clients that they have to look at the bigger picture and focus on their family’s future.
What’s one myth about divorce law you’d like to clear up?
Illinois is a no-fault state meaning that the court isn’t going to look at the quality of the marriage, the behavior of your soon-to-be-ex, or why it is ending when ultimately deciding on who gets what in a divorce. The court is not going to punish your soon-to-be-ex for being a bad partner, even though I completely understand why a client would want that.
What makes the culture at Giannola Legal LLC unique?
One of my favorite things is when you watch a TV show or movie and you can tell the cast genuinely like each other and aren’t just acting. That is how I feel here, we all genuinely get along and enjoy spending time with each other and it never feels forced. I am incredibly grateful to spend my days working alongside a great and supportive team.
What do you like to do to unwind after a long day in court or at the office?
I love listening to true crime or history podcasts and deep dive into a new story. On the weekends I enjoy exploring the local forest preserves and breweries with friends.
If you weren’t working in the legal world, what career would you want to try?
I would love to be an interior designer! I love shopping around for decor, thrifting unique items and designing/organizing my space.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
I currently teach a class in law and politics at my alma mater, Benedictine University!
